India spinner Harbhajan Singh has called on the coach Anil Kumble to discuss with the BCCI administrators the current disparity between the fees to a domestic player and that to a Test player.
The elite Indian cricketers earn handsomely and even domestic players with an IPL contract are able to get by with lucrative contracts. But the situation becomes dire for domestic players in the Ranji and Duleep Trophy who earn Rs. 1.5 lakh a match as compared to Rs 15 lakh a match for the elite players.
In a latter address to Kumble from Harbhajan, he wrote :
“It’s been last 2-3 years, I am playing Ranji Trophy. I hate that I’ve found constant struggle around me in the financial situation of my first-class teammates. Even though Ranji Trophy is hosted by the richest cricket board in the world, I appeal to you as a player, who is an inspiration and role model for all Ranji players,” he is quoted in a report by news agency PTI.
“I request you to please take this up with the top brass of BCCI and players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag to ensure that a change is brought about in the pay structure, in the amounts they get paid. I am willing to help/assist in any way to help bring in a change. It’s shocking to say the least that the payment system hasn’t been changed since 2004. Imagine the value of 100 rupees then and now. It is so different,” the letter says.
“I have achieved enough because of cricket and I have been fortunate to play close to 400 international matches in India. I am not talking for myself but those who are grinding it out at the domestic level.”
“There will be hundreds of domestic cricketers who will not play for India or have an IPL contract but they are also cricketers just like any top India cricketer. They also have families, dreams, aspirations. This is a request that these domestic cricketers are also looked after,” he concluded.
